MIKE JACKSON believes it could take at least 10 games before the real League One title contenders emerge.

Tranmere are now the bookies' favourites to finish top after Bristol City's poor start to the campaign.

Yet the topsy-turvy nature of results elsewhere in the first week means that, at this stage, it is too difficult to call who Rovers' main rivals will be.

Indeed, tomorrow's visitors Chesterfield, tipped for relegation by many, have got off to a fine start.

Centre-half Jackson, a summer signing from Preston, said: "This time of the year results are up in the air. Various people start well and it doesn't usually level out until it gets 10 games or more into the season. You can't read too much into it at this stage.

"Players are still getting their match fitness. it can take some people three or four games to get up to the right tempo. Chesterfield have had a good start, winning one and drawing one. They will come here looking to stop us playing."

Spirits are high in the Tranmere camp after Tuesday's win over Hartle-pool, which erased the disappointment of an opening day defeat at Peterborough.

Jackson added: "We needed that win in midweek after what happened last Saturday. It would have been good to get a point down at Peterborough, but we made a mistake and it wasn't to be. The win over Hartlepool just settled everyone down.

"We have to take that performance and carry it on against Chesterfield. The pitch had a bit of skid on it on Tuesday night and that made a massive difference.

"The rain was a Godsend and it really helped us. At Peterborough the ball was just sticking when you passed it. It didn't make for good football."

In the first two games of the season Jackson has found himself with two different centre-half partners. He lined up with Ian Goodison at London Road, then with Ian Sharps on Tuesday night - a pairing that is likely to continue against Chesterfield tomorrow.

With more than 450 games behind him, Jackson can cope with any change.

"It's not a problem," said the defender. "Throughout the whole of my career I've played alongside different people. You get used to it. Ian Goodison and Sharpy are both good players with different attributes."

Chesterfield will include in their ranks Shane Nicholson, who was released by Rovers in the summer.

However, another Prenton Park old boy Wayne Allison is unlikely to figure. The powerful striker is battling against a thigh strain and his absence will be a boost to the Tranmere defence.

"I know Chief well," said Jackson. "I was on a coaching course with him and have played against him quite a few times.

"If he plays tomorrow we will have to defend against him well.

"We will have to defend the second balls off him because he is going to win his fair share of headers simply because of the sheer size of him."